Press Release
March 7, 2016

POE GETS INPUT ON DISASTER RISK REDUCTION FROM COASTAL LGUS

SAMBOAN, CEBU - Buoyed by her lead standing in recent surveys, presidential candidate Sen. Grace Poe is making the rounds in the country's coastal towns in the Visayas to help local governments find ways to be more resilient during disasters.

Poe and running mate, Sen. Francis Escudero, visited Bantayan island and Samboan in Cebu to meet with local government officials and get their input on how to reduce their vulnerability to disasters and achieve national resilience.

"The focus of our visit to these areas is to figure out a good government initiative for the NDRRMC (National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council). We are trying to put up a separate department for risk reduction so we need to be able to have input from the local governments when it comes to national resilience," Poe said in a press conference in Samboan.

Should she win the presidency, Poe said her administration will create a department-level and independent Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority that will not only prepare for calamities but also build and sustain disaster-resilient and adaptive communities across the country. The head of the agency will have a cabinet rank.

Poe said she wants to get on the ground and see for herself what needs to be done.

"Ang importante dito sa pagpunta namin ay pakikipag-usap sa kababayan, sa mga fisherfolk communities," she said.

Poe, who remains the top choice in pre-election presidential surveys, said she wants to run a campaign that will not only allow her to share her platform but also help her get valuable insights from the people.

"Mas lalong tumitindi ang aming layunin at mas nagkakaroon kami ng inspirasyon na umikot sa ating bansa hindi lamang para makita ang mga kababayan kundi pakinggan din sila kung ano'ng nais nilang idagdag sa aming plataporma at ialay din sa kanila ang plataporma namin," she said.

Accompanied by local officials and media, Poe and Escudero also toured the famous Aguinid waterfalls in Samboan before heading to Bantayan island, another famous beach destination in Cebu.

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